Topeka ? Kansas lawmakers ended the 2004 legislative session after failing to approve a funding increase for public schools.

The Senate ended its deliberations at 6:04 p.m., the House at 6:55 p.m.

The decision followed days of wrangling and fighting over school funding plans.

The House voted 75-41 against a proposal that would have provided an $82 million increase for schools. The plan would have required no new taxes, but would have been paid for by transferring money from the state highway plan.

Both House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, and House Democratic leader Dennis McKinney of Greensburg said defeat of the bill signaled an end to the debate during this session.

“I don’t think anyone has the right to point fingers at anyone else,” Mays said.

“It was a failure on all of our parts to come to an agreement. All the different parties in this debate dug their heels in, and there was not a sense of compromise, I think, that was needed to come up with a solution,” he said.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who had supported tax increase for schools, said the Legislature’s failure to produce increased revenue for schools would cause drastic cuts and hurt school children.

“All of this because legislators couldn’t summon the courage to meet the challenge before them in the 2004 session,” Sebelius said.

Lawmakers will return for the official session end May 27, which is usually just a formality.